The French track rider had to work until the last sprint to clinch an eighth European title on Friday.
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A new feat for Benjamin Thomas. The Tarnais won the final of the points race, Friday August 12 in Munich. For his eighth European title, the world champion beat the Belgian Robbe Ghys for 12 points (135 against 123). This is the second success of the day for Thomas, already winner of the team pursuit, and the fourth medal for the French delegation in track cycling.
He went through all the emotions. In a mano a mano with his Belgian rival, Benjamin Thomas first raced in the lead. But a start from Ghys threatened his first place. Everything was played out in a stressful last lap, in which the data was simple: if Thomas finished ahead of Ghys, he won the gold medal. A dazzling acceleration got the better of the Belgian’s hopes.
“The last forty laps were very tactical, I bet everything on the last sprint”, he analyzed at the microphone of France Télévisions. With this success, the 27-year-old Frenchman enriches a little more an already very extensive European record. In the points race, he had already been crowned continental champion twice, in 2014 and 2021, the same year he won gold at the world championships.
After the team pursuit earlier in the day, Thomas concluded his Bavarian escapade with a bang. The runner will now join the road with his Cofidis training, in order to prepare for the Polynormande, scheduled for Sunday.